Osterholz: Art, Moor and Hamme
Accommodation in Osterholz
Osterholz brings together the cultural landscape of the Devil’s Moor, art history and distinctive natural areas. In Worpswede, museums, exhibitions and trails shape the visitor experience; elsewhere in the district, wetlands, river landscapes and historic buildings reveal other sides of the region. When planning your trip, you can start by deciding whether you want to focus on art and discovering local places, or on nature and landscape experiences.
Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Naturschutzgebiet "Breites Wasser" -- 2018 -- 3022.jpg
Photo: Dietmar Rabich via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Devil’s Moor, the Hamme lowlands and the Lower Weser
Parts of the Devil’s Moor in the Osterholz district provide habitats for endangered animal and plant species. The Hamme lowlands also extend into the Osterholz district. They are among the most significant large-scale wetlands and one of the last extensive floodplain landscapes in north-western Germany. Harriersand is part of a protected landscape complex on the Lower Weser in the Osterholz district. Each of these landscapes offers something different: moorland habitats, a vast lowland area and the protected landscape along the Lower Weser.
Those wishing to combine nature and culture on their trip will find a special point of reference in Worpswede: the village lies within the cultural landscape of the Devil’s Moor, where nature, history and culture are interconnected. Worpswede is considered a vibrant centre of cultural life in the district. The landscape is therefore part of the region’s identity, while museums and art venues tell the story of the artists’ village.
Worpswede and its art history
Six museums in Worpswede explore the village’s art history through their collections and special exhibitions. The Worpswede Art Hall permanently displays works by the first generation of Worpswede artists and their successors. The Great Art Exhibition presents works by Heinrich Vogeler, Otto Modersohn, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Hans am Ende, Fritz Overbeck, Fritz Mackensen and Carl Vinnen. Its building is designed like a sculpture made of red brick. Together with Café Worpswede, it forms part of Bernhard Hoetger’s Expressionist ensemble: the Great Art Exhibition was built in 1927 and Café Worpswede in 1925.
The Barkenhoff also offers an introduction to Heinrich Vogeler’s work. From 1895 to 1923, it was his home and workplace. The exhibition there offers insights into Vogeler’s artistic development—from his time at the Düsseldorf Art Academy through Art Nouveau and Expressionism to the new realist painting. The Museum am Modersohn-Haus displays works by the first generation of Worpswede artists. In the former home of Paula Modersohn-Becker and Otto Modersohn, visitors can trace Paula Modersohn-Becker’s life through works and photographs. Art lovers can therefore explore several different themes: the development of an artists’ village, individual lives and the work of several Worpswede artists.
Exploring Worpswede on foot, by bike and on the water
The Weyerberg Sliekpad starts at the Worpswede Tourist Information Office and passes some of the most beautiful spots in the artists’ village and on the Weyerberg. Guided village walks and cycling tours are also available, offering a closer look at Worpswede and the Devil’s Moor. The cycling network in and around Worpswede is signposted according to ADFC standards. A network of numbered junctions lets you tailor your route, so you can choose where to go based on your own interests, without being tied to a set distance.
Torfkahn trips on the Hamme offer a different perspective on the landscape. They run regularly from Neu Helgoland in Worpswede from May to early October. Replicas of historic peat boats explore the Hamme. In summer, the Moorexpress also travels through the Devil’s Moor via Worpswede between Bremen and Stade on Saturdays and public holidays. These seasonal options give you different ways to plan your trip: a journey on historic peat-boat replicas, an outing on foot or by bike, or a ride on the Moorexpress.
More to see in Osterholz-Scharmbeck
In Osterholz-Scharmbeck, the water tower offers panoramic views of the Hamme lowlands and Bremen on Sundays from May to October. The town is also home to a Benedictine nuns’ monastery church dating from the 12th century. These places add viewpoints and architectural history to the area’s art and nature themes. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Osterholz, you can choose where to stay based on the experiences that matter most to you: Worpswede offers art and a variety of places to explore, while the water tower and monastery church are other specific places to visit in Osterholz-Scharmbeck. The region thus offers families with different interests several themes to choose from when planning their trip.
Discover more places
More places: Worpswede, Ritterhude, Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Lilienthal, Dannenberg, Grasberg, Vollersode, Hambergen, Schwanewede and Lübberstedt.
For the broader travel overview: Lower Saxony.
